Modular design
Modular design is an approach to design where a system is broken down into more discrete parts (modules) or subsystems which can be implemented, modified, or removed independently of each other to some degree, allowing the broader system to change and adapt to different situations whilst continuing to function as a whole.
It is commonly used within video games for environment modelling; and within architecture for housing construction, particularly to add personalisation to off-the-plan designs. It can be difficult to apply seamlessly as it requires a skilled combination of systems analysis and design knowledge specialised to the area in which it will be used.
Within larp, modular design can be applied a number of different ways depending on the style of game and its design purposes.
For instance, in a freeform, modular design might include pre-written character sheets that have been written around different clusters of plot. This can allow running the game at slightly different sizes, by removing all the characters around one cluster, so that the characters left are not dependent on someone missing to complete the remaining plot arcs. But this design can be challenging to apply effectively. Remaining character connections from a removed cluster can cause confusion for players; yet if each plot cluster is too separate and fails to connect to each other, then it may fail to feel like a cohesive larp and leave some players unable to play together meaningfully.
Other modular designs may look very different, particularly across different larp types, and may revolve around environmental or world features that can be added or removed to increase or decrease complexity and/or cater to different crowd sizes or interests, such as locations/sets, puzzles, and NPCs.